Temperature Sensor and Connector Assembly

Abstract

A connector assembly comprises a connector and a temperature sensor. The connector includes a connector housing formed with a sensor slot, and a conductive terminal arranged in the connector housing. The temperature sensor is inserted into the sensor slot and is adapted to detect a temperature of the conductive terminal in the connector. The sensor includes a shell having a first sidewall in thermal contact with the conductive terminal, and a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall. The second sidewall defines an interference fit portion extending from an outer surface thereof. The interference fit portion forms an interference fit with an inner wall of the sensor slot. A remaining portion of the second sidewall except for the interference fit portion is separated from the inner wall of the sensor slot by a predetermined gap. The sensor further includes a temperature sensing element arranged in the shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A temperature sensor adapted to be inserted into a sensor slot of a connector housing and to detect a temperature of a conductive terminal in the connector housing, comprising:
 a shell, including:
 a first sidewall adapted to thermally contact the conductive terminal; and 
 a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall and including an interference fit portion extending from an outer surface thereof, the interference fit portion adapted to form an interference fit with an inner wall of the sensor slot, wherein, when the temperature sensor is inserted into the sensor slot, a remaining portion of the second sidewall except for the interference fit portion is separated from the inner wall of the sensor slot by a predetermined gap; and 
   a temperature sensing element arranged in the shell.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein any one of a remainder of sidewalls of the shell except for the first sidewall has an interference fit portion adapted to form an interference fit with the inner wall of the sensor slot, such that a remaining portion of any one of the remaining sidewalls except for the interference fit portion is separated from the inner wall of the sensor slot by a predetermined gap. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a slot hole is formed in the second sidewall of the shell and separates a portion of the second sidewall into an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion, the interference fit portion includes a convex portion formed on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the slot hole; and   the outer wall portion of the slot hole is adapted to elastically deform towards the interior of the slot hole when the convex portion interferes with the inner wall of the sensor slot, resulting in a predetermined contact pressure between the first sidewall of the shell and the conductive terminal to ensure reliable thermal contact between the first sidewall and the conductive terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein one slot hole is formed in the second sidewall of the shell, and one convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the slot hole. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein one slot hole is formed in the second sidewall of the shell, and a plurality of convex portions are formed on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the slot hole. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of convex portions on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of the one slot hole are arranged in a row in a transverse direction of the shell and spaced from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of slot holes are formed in the second sidewall of the shell, and one convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of each slot hole. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of slot holes on the second sidewall of the shell are arranged in a row in a longitudinal direction of the shell and spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of slot holes are formed in the second sidewall of the shell, and a plurality of convex portions are formed on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of each slot hole. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the plurality of slot holes on the second sidewall of the shell are arranged in a row in a longitudinal direction of the shell and spaced apart from each other; and   the plurality of convex portions on the outer surface of the outer wall portion of each slot hole are arranged in a row in a transverse direction of the shell and spaced from each other.   
     
     
         11 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the second sidewall has a flat outer surface, the convex portion has a flat top surface and a smooth transition surface located between the top surface and the outer surface of the second sidewall;   the smooth transition surface is used to guide the shell into and out of the sensor slot;   the smooth transition surface is an arc-shaped or inclined surface.   
     
     
         12 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a slot hole is formed in the second sidewall of the shell and separates a portion of the second sidewall into an outer wall portion and an inner wall portion, the outer wall portion of the slot hole is arched outward to form the interference fit portion;   the outer wall portion of the slot hole is adapted to elastically deform towards the interior of the slot hole when it interferes with the inner wall of the sensor slot, resulting in a predetermined contact pressure between the first sidewall of the shell and the conductive terminal to ensure reliable thermal contact between the first sidewall and the conductive terminal.   
     
     
         13 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 12 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the slot hole is elliptical. 
     
     
         14 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein a thickness of a portion of the second sidewall formed with the slot hole is greater than a thickness of a remaining portion of the second sidewall except for the portion formed with the slot hole. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the slot hole runs through the second sidewall along a transverse direction of the shell such that the slot hole is a transverse through hole formed in the second sidewall; or   the slot hole does not run through the second sidewall along the transverse direction of the shell such that the slot hole is a transverse blind hole formed in the second sidewall.   
     
     
         16 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the slot hole runs through the second sidewall along a longitudinal direction of the shell such that the slot hole is a longitudinal through-hole formed in the second sidewall; or   the slot hole does not run through the second sidewall along the longitudinal direction of the shell such that the slot hole is a longitudinal blind hole formed in the second sidewall.   
     
     
         17 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shell includes a left wall and a right wall that are opposite in a transverse direction of the shell, and a top wall and a bottom wall that are opposite in a height direction of the shell;   the first sidewall is the bottom wall of the shell, and the second sidewall is the top wall of the shell.   
     
     
         18 . The temperature sensor according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the shell further includes a front end wall and a rear port opposite the front end wall;   the temperature sensing element is arranged into the shell through the rear port;   a wire extends into the shell through the rear port and electrically connected to the temperature sensing element; and   a thermal conductive sealant is poured into the shell through the rear port.   
     
     
         19 . A connector assembly, comprising:
 a connector, including:
 a connector housing formed with a sensor slot; and 
 a conductive terminal arranged in the connector housing; and 
   a temperature sensor inserted into the sensor slot and adapted to detect a temperature of the conductive terminal in the connector, including:
 a shell, including:
 a first sidewall in thermal contact with the conductive terminal; and 
 a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall and including an interference fit portion extending from an outer surface thereof, the interference fit portion forming an interference fit with an inner wall of the sensor slot, a remaining portion of the second sidewall except for the interference fit portion is separated from the inner wall of the sensor slot by a predetermined gap; and 
 
   a temperature sensing element arranged in the shell.   
     
     
         20 . The connector assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first sidewall directly contacts the conductive terminal.